Heritage Week events in Kildare today

Wednesday, August 23

Heritage Week is in full swing in Kildare with numerous events every day this week. Below is a summary of the events listed for today, August 23. For more information or to book, click here.

Celbridge Heritage Audio Guide is on every day from August 19 to 27 from 9:30am - 5pm at Abarta Heritage, Castletown House. The free audio guide helps you to discover the story of Celbridge and Castletown House. Simply download the free Guidigo App and search for Celbridge. Entry fee into Castletown may still apply. Discover the story of Celbridge and the magnificent Castletown House with this free audio guide which will lead you on a self-guided tour of the north Kildare town. Learn about the famous William Speaker Conolly, the wealthiest and most powerful man in Ireland in the early 1700s, and explore some of the wonderful architecture along the Main Street of Celbridge. Listen to how Jonathan Swift travelled here to meet his lover Vanessa on the banks of the Liffey.

The National Science Museum is open today and Sunday, August 23 and 27 from 2 to 4pm (6pm on Sunday) at the National Science Museum in Maynooth University. Come and view the largest display of scientific instruments on public display in Ireland. Most of which were manufactured in the Dublin area between 1880 and 1920.

Create or Paint a Fairy Door today between 12pm and 4pm at Florence and Milly Pottery Painting and Craft Studio. As part of Heritage week, on wild child day we invite you to join us here at Florence and Milly to create or paint your own Fairy Door. The Craft workshop will be held from 12-4pm and tickets are available for purchase below at €5 per child for 1 hr of painting or clay. Booking is required.

The Curragh: Free Audio Guide is available from 9.30am to 5pm every day this week at Junction 12 on the M7 Motorway. The Free audio guide to the Curragh of Kildare tells the story of its history, natural heritage, personalities and sporting aspects. Simply download the free Guidigo App and search for The Curragh.

Kildare Monastic Trail Audio at the Castledermot Monastic Site, Church Lane, Castledermot. Follow in the footsteps of Kildare’s early saints with this free audio guide. Simply download the free Guidigo App and search for Kildare Monastic Trail. Explore the Ancient Monasteries of Kildare with your Free Audio Guide. County Kildare is at the heart of the story of the dawn of Christianity in Ireland, and some of Ireland’s most famous saints like Brigid, Colmcille and Patrick have strong links with the county. The Kildare Monastic Trail will lead you to ruins of ancient monasteries, where you will encounter some of Ireland’s best-preserved round towers, descriptions of high crosses and fascinating tales of history and folklore.

Kildare Town Audio Guide at Kildare Town Heritage Centre, Market Square, Kildare Town. Free audio guide to Kildare town. Discover the story of Kildare, a town at the heart of the story of Ireland for millennia. Simply download the free Guidigo App and search for Kildare Town. This free audio guide will lead you around the wonderful Heritage Town of Kildare, which has been at the heart of Irish history for millennia. Kildare derives from the Irish ‘Cill Dara’ meaning Church of the Oak, named after the church founded here by St Brigid around 480 A.D. Kildare became a key base for the Norman invaders and their famous leader Strongbow, and the audio guide describes how Kildare was the scene of tragedy during the 1798 Uprising.

Heritage Week at Maynooth Castle every day this week from 11am to 5pm at the Castle. Join in the special guided tours and the castle-inspired arts and crafts activities throughout Heritage Week. Contact is on 01 628 6744 for more details.

Tower of Allen, Hill of Allen is open daily from 10am to 6pm with Regina Heavey at the Tower of Allen, Hill of Allen (or what’s left of it). Just 10km from Newbridge and Kildare and 15km from Naas, this magnificent tower was built in 1859 by Sir Gerald George Aylmer. The tower commands extensive views of the surrounding countryside. This magnificent tower was built in 1859 by Sir Gerald George Aylmer. On each step of the tower is inscribed the names of the men and women who built it. Come and visit this great piece of our local history. Suitable footwear required, path to tower via forest trail. Car parking at owner's risk.

Insight into Art O'Connor this evening from 8pm to 10pm at Elm Hall Heritage Group, Elm Hall Golf Club Celbridge. A talk on Art O'Connor who was a politician and judge.

Observations on Nature today and tomorrow from 10am to 5pm at Maynooth University, Russell Library. Explore nature through the historical print collections of the Russell Library. Books on gardening, botany, agriculture and husbandry will be on display some of which will refer to the local area. The exhibition will appeal to anyone who has an interest in nature and the environment, local history, botanical art or life in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. A 6 inch Ordnance Survey map of Kildare will be on display as well as items from our Special Collections in the John Paul II. The Pugin designed Russell Library is of historical and architectural significance and well worth a visit. We are also closed for lunch 1-2pm.

Meitheal Dúchas.ie/Logainm.ie from 3pm - 3:45pm involving Fiontar and Scoil na Gaeilge, DCU, Celbridge Library. Find out how you can contribute to the preservation of Ireland's cultural heritage. Transcribe folklore from the 1930s with Meitheal Dúchas.ie and record minor place names with Meitheal Logainm.ie. Meitheal Dúchas.ie is an opportunity to transcribe folklore material collected by schoolchildren for the National Folklore Collection in the 1930s in Ireland. It is one of the most successful crowdsourcing projects of its kind in the world. Discover more at www.duchas.ie/en/meitheal/ Meitheal Logainm.ie encourages the recording and sharing of minor place names. The public is asked to record minor place names, such as field names, via a simple online form. Discover more at meitheal.logainm.ie/en/

High Cross and Local History Displays today and tomorrow, August 23 and 24 from 9:30am - 5pm. The displays are by Castledermot Local History Group and available to view at Teach Diarmada Community Centre, Main St, Castledermot. View part of the Irish High Cross Exhibition (originally in the National Museum) and an exhibition on the rich heritage of the town. A perfect complement to a walk around our historical sites. Be sure to ask for a copy of our free heritage leaflet (including a map of the sites) in the community centre or other local shops to help you find and enjoy the various sites of interest around the town.

The Book of Kildare and Other Stories from 7pm to 8pm run by Kildare Library Services at Kilcullen Community Library. It will be a talk by Mario Corrigan on 25 unusual or little-known treasures from the Kildare Local History Collection. Part of the Creative Ireland Kildare initiative.

My Town-My Heritage' Photo Exhibit everyday from 9.30am to 4.30pm by Castledermot Local History Group at Teach Diarmada Community Centre, Main St, Castledermot, including an exhibition of entries to a photo competition celebrating all aspects of local heritage in Castledermot and its surrounding locality. Entrants were encouraged to photograph any aspect of our varied heritage - big or small. Includes a junior category aimed at Primary School aged children.

A Museum Treasure Hunt from 2pm to 3.30pm at the Athy Heritage Centre Museum including fun activity inside the Heritage Centre and Museum - follow a map and locate the clues to win a certificate.

Another Brick in the Wall is on today from 2pm to 5pm at Newbridge Library which will host a display of bricks made in Kildare, Dublin, Cork and Cavan as well as bricks from England, Scotland and Wales which were used locally. Liam Kenny presents his brick collection in Newbridge Library with an eclectic collection of bricks made in Ballysax, Athy and further afield. Bricks built the Curragh Camp and many other buildings from cottages to schools in the Newbridge area. Bricks from the nearby Ballysax brickyard will feature.

The Lady Fitzgeralds from 12 noon to 1pm at Maynooth Castle. The Lady Fitzgeralds: a female perspective - join OPW guide Mary Henry for this fascinating look at some of the women of the powerful Fitzgerald family.

The Demise of Maynooth Castle from 11am to 12pm at Maynooth Castle. Join OPW guide Joe Gissane for this special Heritage Week tour focusing on what happened to the castle following the rebellion and siege of the castle.

Jouses, Jesters and Japes! From 3pm to 4pm at Maynooth Castle where OPW guide Katherine Colthurst will give a lively tour focusing on entertainment in medieval times.

Competitions at the Castle! From 2pm to 4pm at Maynooth Castle where you can drop in and take part in our children's competitions! Have fun while learning about the castle and you might win a prize!

Nature in Maynooth's College Chapel from 3pm to 4pm when you can visit St. Patrick's College Chapel in Maynooth University and hear a talk on representations of nature in St. Patrick's College Chapel, featuring organ music.

Thatching Demo Yew Cottage from 12noon to 3pm where Paul Darby at Yew Cottage, Mountrice, Monasterevin (W34D653) will give a public demonstration of the ancient and highly skilled craft of thatching. Learn from the owner about the varied skills and materials used to thatch his property with only Irish grown materials. Conducted by master thatchers Leonard and Sons. The thatchers will explain the traditional techniques and materials used in thatching, extolling the benefits and beauty of a thatched roof.

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